Private Browsing - Use Firefox without saving history

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As you browse the web, Firefox remembers lots of information for you - like the sites you've visited. There may be times, however, when you don't want people with access to your computer to see this information, such as when shopping for a present. Private Browsing allows you to browse the Internet without saving any information about which sites and pages you’ve visited. We'll show you how it works.

Important: Private Browsing doesn't make you anonymous on the Internet. Your Internet service provider, employer, or the sites themselves can still track what pages you visit. Private Browsing also doesn't protect you from keyloggers or spyware that may be installed on your computer.

How do I open a new Private Window?

There are two ways to open a new Private Window.

Open a new, blank Private Window

Click the menu button
and then click New Private Window.

At the top of the Firefox window, click the File menu and select New Private Window.At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button and select New Private Window.On the menu bar, click the File menu and select New Private Window.

At the top of the Firefox window, click the File menu and select New Private Window.

Open a link in a new Private Window

Right-clickHold down the Ctrl key while you click
on any link and choose Open Link in New Private Window from the context menu.

Important:When in Private Browsing mode, the window title will say (Private Browsing) and there will be a purple Private Browsing mask below the Close button. You may also have other windows open that are not Private Browsing windows.When in Private Browsing mode, the Firefox button will be purple. You may also have other windows open that are not Private Browsing windows.When in Private Browsing mode, the window title will say (Private Browsing) followed by a purple Private Browsing mask. You may also have other windows open that are not Private Browsing windows.When in Private Browsing mode, the window title will say (Private Browsing) and there will be a purple Private Browsing mask below the File menu. You may also have other windows open that are not Private Browsing windows.

Tip: Private Browsing windows have a purple mask at the top.

How do I turn on Private Browsing?

To start Private Browsing:

At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button (Tools menu in Windows XP) and select Start Private Browsing.On the menu bar, click the Tools menu and select Start Private Browsing.At the top of the Firefox window, click the Tools menu and select Start Private Browsing.

When you turn on Private Browsing, Firefox alerts you that it will save your current windows and tabs for after you finish using Private Browsing. Click Start Private Browsing to continue.

Check the box next to "Do not show this message again" if you don't want to receive this alert when you turn on Private Browsing.

When browsing in Private Browsing mode, the Firefox window title will say (Private Browsing)the Firefox button will be purple (for Windows XP the window title will say (Private Browsing) instead) during your session.

How do I turn off Private Browsing?

To end a Private Browsing session:

At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button (Tools menu in Windows XP) and select Stop Private Browsing.On the menu bar, click the Tools menu and select Stop Private Browsing.At the top of the Firefox window, click the Tools menu and select Stop Private Browsing.

The windows and tabs you were using when you enabled Private Browsing will appear, and you can use Firefox normally. The Firefox window title will no longer say (Private Browsing)The Firefox button will turn orange again (for Windows XP the Firefox window title will no longer say (Private Browsing)) when Private Browsing is off.

What does Private Browsing not save?

Visited pages: No pages will be added to the list of sites in the History menu, the Library window's history list, or the Awesome Bar address list.

Download List entries: No files you download will be listed in the Downloads Window after you turn off Private Browsing.

Cookies: Cookies store information about websites you visit such as site preferences, login status, and data used by plugins like Adobe Flash. Cookies can also be used by third parties to track you across websites. For more info about tracking, see How do I turn on the Do Not Track feature?

Cached Web Content and Offline Web Content and User Data: No temporary Internet files (cached files) or files that websites save for offline use will be saved.